Paddle wheel



Y Sept. 2, 1941.

C. H. H. RODANET PADDLE WHEEL Filed Jan. 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l .Ficafl. .FIGZF .Fica.3.

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5a. 1 a-'b a"? INVENTOR:

- CHARlJE35 HILAIRE o. 2 HENRI RODANET ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 2, 1941 TUNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE h azsaooi i-f ,PADDLE WHEEL Charles Hilaire Henri Rodanet, Neuilly-sur- Seine,

France, assignor to Socit Anonyme: Jaege'r- Aviation, Levallois-PerreL-Seine, France Application January 3, 1940, serial No. 312;2;45

- In France January 16,1939 I 2 Claims. (01. 1709132) l The present invention has for'object a paddlewheel utilisable in a general manner, and more especially on a log and in particular an aerial log. This paddle-wheel is devised for allowin not only a simple and economical construction, but also'an adjustment of the pitch of the blades.

The invention consists, generally sp'eaking,'in constructing the paddle-wheel in such-amanner that the two blades which constitute the same are each rigid with one of the branches of a U-shaped hub or the like, the bottom of which forms the part for securing it to the rotating shaft whereas the branches can be resiliently distorted inwardly or outwardly by bending each branch about its line of attachment to the bottom of the U-shaped hub, so as to allow at will of adjusting the pitch of the blades.

This general principle of construction and of adjustment, more particularly defined in the case of a paddle-wheel having two blades, is obviously applicable to a paddle-wheel comprising a single blade, three blades or a larger number of blades. In this case, one or more branches, the number of which is equal to that of the blades of the paddle-wheel, form projections on the bottom of attachment to the rotating shaft.

In practice, the blades and the hub are cut out in one and the same metal blank; the central part is folded in U shape and the blades which form lateral extensions of the opposite sides of the branches, are suitably curved.

In a form of construction, the branches of the U-shaped hub are urged, on the one hand, in the closing direction, by a system of the screw and nut type and, on the other hand, in the opening direction, by a spring or the like, both members of the screw and nut system each comprising a toothed head or flange combined with a stop or locking pin engaged in the fixed perforations of the branches of the U-shaped hub.

The invention also includes other particular points which will appear in the following text given with reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the paddle-wheel cut out in a metal blank and before folding.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the paddle-wheel after folding.

Fig. 3 is a corresponding front View but before bending the blades.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the paddle-wheel after folding and bending the blades.

Fig. 5 is a general elevation, on an enlarged scale, with section made according to the broken line VV of Fig. 6 and showing the paddlewheel mounted and :provided withits device for adjusting the pitch ofthe blades.

, Fig. 6' is a section made ken linelVI'VI of Fig. 5. F'Y'I is a section made according to line VII- v11 Of Fig 5. p

The log paddle-wheel,illustrated by way of f-ccording to the bro,-

example only, comprises two blades! and 2 which-iform' one piece with a hub'3. The blades I 2 and the hub 3 are obtained by cutting out one and 1 the same metal blank or plate, as illustrated in Fig.-"1, perforations and notches being also formed'in the-part3. After folding the part 3 according to line'db andcd'the hub 3 has a general U shape, the blades l and 2 constitute lateral and opposedextensions of the branches 3 of the hub the bottom of which is indicated by the reference number 3'. The blades are then curved to the final shape, as shown in plan view in Fig. 4, so as to have a definite pitch.

Reference will now be made to Figs. 5 to 7 which illustrate the mounting of the paddle- Wheel and its device for adjusting the pitch of the blades.

The bottom 3 of the hub is secured on a rotating plate 6 from which extends the rotating shaft, not shown, and which drives the device controlling or indicating the speed of the paddlewheel. On the plate 6 is also secured a hood 1 through which pass the blades 1 and 2, packings being provided at 8 at the passage of the blades through the hood 1.

A screw 9 and a nut l0, having toothed heads or flanges 9 and Ill are arranged as more particularly shown in Fig. '7. The screw 9 and the nut I 0 have parts in the shape of a spherical ring 9 and N which take a bearing on the edges of the perforations l l and I2 provided in the branches 3 of the hub. A spring M, surrounding the nut l0 and the screw 9, takes a bearing on the inner faces of the branches 3 and tends to space said branches apart. On the contrary, by screwing the nut l0 and the screw 9, the branches 3 can be brought nearer in antagonism to the action of the spring l4 and to the resiliency of the branches 3*.

The movement of the branches 3 from or towards each other, which branches bend according to the lines ab and cd for folding and connecting said branches 3 with the bottom 3 allows of modifying the pitch of the blades I and 2. In fact, as said blades are rigidwith the branches 3 of the hub, they follow the adjustment of the position of said branches.

For holding the branches 3 stationary after their adjustment, use is made of a pin l6 engaged in corresponding perforations l7 formed in said branches and which is inserted between the teeth of the heads 9 and H] of the screw and of the nut so as to prevent these two memhere from rotating.

The extraction of the pin l6 ensuresthe unlocking of the screw and nut system in order to allow of effecting a further adjustment of the pitch of the blades, the pin being then again placed in position after adjustment.

In order to limit the inwardandoutwarid displacement of the branches '3, a system 'df abut ments is provided. This system comprises rods l9 and 20 rigidly mounted on the branches-ii and which comprise parts [9 and 20 of: smaller diameter, the ends of which form abutments and desired'result, remain included in thescopepof the present invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A paddle wheel particularly adapted for use on an aerial log, and having one or more blades, a rotatable shaft for said paddle wheel, a U-shaped hub rigid with said one or more blades having abottom portion forming a part by which to, secure said hub to the shaft, the branches or legs of said hub being capable of -being distorted and bent about its line of attachment to the bottom portion of said hub in order to allow adjustment of the pitch of the blades, saidhub and blades being formed from a -unitar-y sheet of metal having the intermediate portion foldedinto a U-shaped hub while the blades-form lateral extensions of the oppo- .sitesides of the branches or legs of said hub, meansfor urging said branches or legs toward each other tending to close the same including ascrew and nut. system, and means for urging the branches apart-tending to open the:same including a resilient means, the members of the screw,anctnutsystemeach comprising atoothed head- 'or flange; combined with a stop or locking pin engaged therewith and fixed in perforations formed in thebranches ofthe-U-shaped-hub.

2. 'A-paidd1e wheel according toclaim 1, including ahutments limiting the degree to which the branches or legspf'the hub may-be spaced apart at? maximum.

.;,CHARLES HILAIRE HENRI 'RODANET. 

